Package w32codecs is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package w32codecs has no installation candidate

When you install simple-ccsm, you also install ccsm.
This creates two new options in System->Preferences.
CompizConfig Settings Manager includes all Compiz settings, while Simple CompizConfig Settings Manager contains the more basic options, plus a number of preset profiles to choose from. So, if you only want the advanced settings, you can install only the ccsm package.

Actually, I use compizconfig-settings-manager package for compiz settings management.
I believe that simple-ccsm is supposed to be a lite compizconfig-settings-manager.
My two cents, nice post btw ;)
Greetings from France, (somewhat) neighbor.